Online system and method for restoring electronic media on electronic storage devices

ABSTRACT

Copy protected materials are backed up or restored and made available for play on electronic media players through an online retrievable system. Corrupted segments of electronic media storage files are identified and located prior to being read, executed, or played. An uncorrupted copy from the network is then located, and software instructions provide for the storage of the uncorrupted segment of the file on electronic media player, merging the uncorrupted segment into the reading, executing, or playing of the electronic storage media file to seamlessly produce an output in real-time that is indistinguishable from the uncorrupted file.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to correcting defects found during theplay of electronic storage devices, and more particularly to providingan online system and method for locating, identifying, and backing upelectronic media, including copy protected media, on electronic storagedevices either in real-time or prior to the play.

2. Description of Related Art

Restoring corrupted electronic files requires an available original ormaster copy having a pristine version of the corrupted portion forcopying. Obtaining an original or master copy of certain files that arecopy protected, however, poses additional problems not encountered withnon-copy protected files. Copy protection is built into many types ofdata that are stored in electronic media such as Digital Video Discs(DVD), Compact Discs (CD), and other electronic storage devices.Moreover, various formats are used for storing the information onelectronic media, such as CD-audio and MP3, to name a few. MP3 and othercompression formats require decompression conversion at some point inthe data transfer. MP3 is part of MPEG, an acronym for Motion PicturesExpert Group, a family of standards for displaying video and audio usinglossy compression. Regardless of the audio or data formatting schemes,copy protection is generally built-in before purchasing the electronicmedia in order to protect against unauthorized copying, which is inviolation of copyright laws. Unfortunately, copy protection prevents thelegitimate copying of files stored on electronic media to a subsequentbackup disc to protect against the event the data becomes corrupted. Forexample, when sections of a music playing compact disc becomes damagedor corrupted, the loss of music information is noticeable as the compactdisc is played. The loss of music information usually defined as a skipin the music or a cessation of play.

The prior art has not addressed this problem in real-time, relyinginstead upon software fixes that require at least a re-formatting orrebooting of the playing system. For example, in U.S. Patent PublicationNo. US2005/0021919 A1 filed by Kroening on Jul. 24, 2003, entitled “SAVEAND RESTORE OF A PROTECTED AREA,” a method, apparatus, system, andsignal-bearing medium is taught that saves a protected area of a storagedevice by booting to a protected area, copying the contents of theprotected area to the user area of the storage device, rebooting to theuser area, and then saving the user area to a backup storage device.

In the present invention the corrupted files detected are not in aprotected area; rather, they are detected either dynamically or by prioranalysis. Furthermore, when the files are read, executed, or played, thepresent invention accesses an uncorrupted copy from the network, storesthe uncorrupted segment of the file on a storage device and merges thissegment into the reading, executing, or playing of the file toseamlessly produce an output in real-time that is indistinguishable fromthe uncorrupted file. If the master copy is of a compressed format, thepresent invention requires decompression as part of the conversionprocess.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Bearing in mind the problems and deficiencies of the prior art, it istherefore an object of the present invention to provide a system andmethod of enabling copy protected files on electronic media to be usedand corrected after files have been corrupted.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a system andmethod of identifying and locating corrupted files within electronicstorage media and providing for continuous play of the files afterdetecting a data corruption.

A further object of the invention is to provide a system and method ofcorrecting copy protected corrupted data files online either dynamicallyor by prior analysis.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part beobvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.

The above and other objects, which will be apparent to those skilled inart, are achieved in the present invention, which is directed to amethod for restoring material on an electronic media player, the methodcomprising: identifying and locating corrupted file segments on anelectronic storage media file played on the electronic media player;accessing an online service provider having a master copy of theelectronic storage media file; downloading to the electronic mediaplayer uncorrupted file segments from the master copy, the uncorruptedfile segments matching the corrupted file segments; and substituting theuncorrupted file segments for the corrupted file segments during play ofthe electronic storage media file on the electronic media player. Themethod further includes dynamically identifying and locating thecorrupted file segments during play of the electronic storage mediafile. The electronic storage media file includes compact discs, digitalvideo discs, floppy discs, flash memory, or hard drives. A master copyis located by searching for a unique identifier assigned to theelectronic storage media file. Substituting the uncorrupted filesegments includes loading the uncorrupted file segments in accessiblememory of the electronic media player. The master copy may comprise acompressed audio or data file format. Further method steps include:decompressing the master copy; identifying the uncorrupted filesegments; and converting the uncorrupted file segments to a formatcompatible with the electronic media player if the uncorrupted filesegments are not in a compatible format. The step of accessing theonline service provider includes accessing a network of peers with asimilar data carrier. The method may further include: verifying that themaster copy is available from the online service provider; storing anyrequest for the master copy when the master copy is not available butwithin an accessible database, and prompting a user when the master copybecomes available; and verifying the electronic storage media file meetscriteria for determining legitimacy prior to downloading. Routing theuser to another online location containing the master copy may occur ifthe master copy is not available from the online service provider. Themethod further includes: locating a legitimate copy of the electronicstorage media file; offering the user an opportunity to purchase thelegitimate copy; and downloading the legitimate copy upon the user'sacceptance and payment.

In a second aspect, the present invention is directed to a method forrestoring material on an electronic media player, the method comprising:locating a master copy of an electronic storage media file by searchingfor a unique identifier assigned to the electronic storage media file;identifying and locating corrupted file segments on the electronicstorage media file by assigning identifying markers to beginning and endpoints of the corrupted file segments; accessing an online serviceprovider having a master copy of the electronic storage media file;verifying that the master copy is available from the online serviceprovider; storing any request for the master copy when the master copyis not available but within an accessible database, and prompting a userwhen the master copy becomes available; verifying the electronic storagemedia file meets criteria for determining legitimacy prior todownloading; downloading to the electronic media player uncorrupted filesegments from the master copy when the electronic storage media file isdetermined legitimate into accessible memory of the electronic mediaplayer, the uncorrupted file segments matching the corrupted filesegments; and substituting the uncorrupted file segments for thecorrupted file segments during play of the electronic storage media fileon the electronic media player. The method further includes:decompressing the master copy when the master copy is in a compressedformat; identifying the uncorrupted file segments; and converting theuncorrupted file segments to a format compatible with the electronicmedia player if the uncorrupted file segments are not in a compatibleformat.

In a third aspect, the present invention is directed to a programstorage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program ofinstructions executable by the machine to perform method steps forrestoring material on an electronic media player, the method stepscomprising: locating a master copy of an electronic storage media fileby searching for a unique identifier assigned to the electronic storagemedia file; identifying and locating corrupted file segments on theelectronic storage media file by assigning identifying markers tobeginning and end points of the corrupted file segments; accessing anonline service provider having a master copy of the electronic storagemedia file; verifying that the master copy is available from the onlineservice provider; storing any request for the master copy when themaster copy is not available but within an accessible database, andprompting a user when the master copy becomes available; verifying theelectronic storage media file meets criteria for determining legitimacyprior to downloading; downloading to the electronic media playeruncorrupted file segments from the master copy when the electronicstorage media file is determined legitimate into accessible memory ofthe electronic media player, the uncorrupted file segments matching thecorrupted file segments; and substituting the uncorrupted file segmentsfor the corrupted file segments during play of the electronic storagemedia file on the electronic media player.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the invention believed to be novel and the elementscharacteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in theappended claims. The figures are for illustration purposes only and arenot drawn to scale. The invention itself, however, both as toorganization and method of operation, may best be understood byreference to the detailed description which follows taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a flow chart of the main process flow for the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of a central online system's handling of arequest for replacing corrupted file segments with a non-corruptedversion, referred to as “sub process 1”.

FIG. 3 depicts the preferred systems for implementing the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention,reference will be made herein to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings in which likenumerals refer to like features of the invention.

The invention detects corrupted files on electronic storage media, suchas compact discs, DVDs, and the like, either dynamically or by prioranalysis. When the files are read, executed, or played, the inventiondetermines which segments of the file are corrupted, accesses anuncorrupted version of the defective segment of the file from thenetwork, stores the uncorrupted file segment on the storage device, andmerges this segment into the reading, executing, or playing of the fileto seamlessly produce an output that is indistinguishable from theuncorrupted file. Importantly, the preferred solution is not limited tocorrecting defects in the playing of compact discs, and may be used in asimilar manner for any electronic media, such as DVD flash memory, andhard drives, among others. Moreover, the present invention is notlimited to any particular type of audio or data format, and may includethe transfer and conversion of compressed information, such as MP3, andthe like. For simplicity, the examples discussed herein refer to thecorrection of defects on compact discs and the format normallyassociated therewith; however, the present invention is not so limitedand the methodology discussed herein is equally applicable to otherelectronic storage media and other electronic audio and data formats.

When music is stored and played on a compact disc, a defect is easilydetectable because the compact disc player has difficulty reading astored section and has to jump to a later section in order to continuethe music play. The lapse or jump in the music sequence immediately letsthe user know that file segments are unreadable, and may be corrupted.The size and location of the defective area is determined. For example,a defect may be identified and located on a compact disc by defining theplay list number and the affected time of play, such as play list no. 3beginning at time point 3:21 and extending through time point 5:04. Inorder to eliminate the adverse effects of the identified defectivesections within the music play, it is necessary to access and play areplacement segment of these defective sections at the appropriate time.Other ways to identify corrupted segments may be used to locate adefective portion of the compact disc, and the present invention is notlimited to any one particular identifying methodology. It is important,however, that the corrupted segments be identified so that their exactreplacements may be obtained.

Additionally, in the event that the master copy obtained is a compressedformatted file, such as MP3, it will be necessary to decompress the fileand identify the replacement segment prior to transfer, or conversely,transfer the compressed audio or data file and decompress the formattedversion at the electronic media player. In either case, the presentinvention is capable of addressing compressed audio and data files,identifying segmented portions thereof, and downloading the uncorruptedsegmented portions for play on the electronic media player.

In a preferred embodiment, in order to provide for correction ofcorrupted files, a connection is established with an online service. Aunique identifier is assigned to the compact disc. Using the uniqueidentifier, the online service provider locates a master copy of thecompact disc. The missing/defective portions of the compact disc areselected from the master copy and downloaded within the memory of thedevice playing the CD. Before the defective portions on the compact discare involved in the music play, the compact disc player identifies thedefective portions of the CD and acquires the non-defective portions ofthe same segments from the compact disc player memory. When theappropriate time comes to play the corrupted portions, the compact discplayer plays the uncorrupted segments from the compact disc player'smemory, rather the defective segments on the compact disc.

In a second embodiment, the user has the option of inserting a blankcompact disc and building a new compact disc by copying the uncorruptedportions of the CD and merging them with the portions of the file thathave been downloaded and are being read, executed or played from memory.

FIG. 1 depicts a flow chart of the main process flow for the presentinvention. In the first action, step 100, the software performing therestoration and copying of corrupted files is loaded into an electronicstorage media player. A user then inserts a compact disc, digital videodisc, computer floppy disc, or the like, and plays the selected media,step 110. During play, the compact disc (or other electronic storagemedia, as previously selected) may exhibit a noticeable defect,presumably skipping a portion of stored files due to a reading error,step 120. If there is no reading error, the disc continues to play, step120 a. If, however, an error is detected, step 120 b, the defectivesegments are located and identified or registered, preferablyidentifiers are assigned that mark the beginning and end of thedefective segments, step 130. This information may be registered withthe cluster and sector identifiers that contain the corrupt data. Theprocess then proceeds to access an online service, step 140, to remedythe reading or skipping of corrupted files. In principal, the onlineservice is preferably a service provided by an industry site, such as asite utilized by the music recording industry for music compact discs,or a site utilized by the cinematic recording industry for digital videorecordings, to name a few. The invention is not limited to anyparticular site, as long as the site has a stored version or directaccess to a stored version of the non-corrupted audio and data versionof the CD, DVD, or the like, and makes a non-corrupted copy accessibleto the user through the system programming structure. Additionally, thesystem may also access a network of peers with similar data carriersprovided the network of peers has stored, non-corrupted files that areaccessible to the user. The online system then handles the request,steps 150-170, as further discussed below in more detail below withreference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of an online system's handling of a requestfor replacing corrupted file segments with a non-corrupted version,referred to in FIG. 1 as “sub process 1”. The online system first checksto verify that an original or master copy is available, step 150. Thischeck is performed with the assistance of the unique identifier assignedto the CD, DVD, or the like. If a copy is not available, but within thedatabase, the online system stores the request, and prompts the userwhen the original or master copy is available for use, step 152. Theuser may also be routed to another location that might contain theselected section. Once an original or master copy is available, theonline system verifies the legitimacy of the user's disc, step 160. Forinstance, the online system will check if the compact disc is anoriginal copy. One way that this can be accomplished is by determiningif the copy restriction is still intact. Clearly, other moresophisticated methods of verification may be incorporated, and would beimplemented in a similar manner as the verification of a copyrestriction. If the compact disc fails the verification step, the onlineservice provider will deny downloading non-corrupted segments of thecompact disc tract. The online service provider may, however, take theoptional step of requesting some form of corrective action, step 170,such as sending the service requestor a notification that an illegalcopy is being used. The online service provider may offer also means topay for and receive a legitimate copy.

The identified, non-corrupted section from the online version is sent toor shared with the user's electronic media player, such as the user's CDplayer, or the like, step 172. When a shared version is offered, theonline system allows the user to download the selected section from adesignated online location. This can be accomplished by granting theuser a specified URL, or a special user password. A decryption algorithmmay also be shared, which would allow for a generally available URL tobe used. In order to prepare other electronic media devices to play thesame corrupted CD file, it is preferable to allow for multiple downloadsof the same affected section.

If the formatted audio and data files are compressed files, as is thecase for MP3 files and other compressed formats, the present methodologyrequires decompression and identification of the uncorrupted segmentseither online or at the electronic media player, step 174. Preferably,the segments are decompressed and identified at the online serviceprovider and then sent to the electronic media player. In someinstances, it may be necessary to convert from one file format toanother in order to play the uncorrupted segments on a particularelectronic media player. In another embodiment, the decompressionalgorithm, the conversion algorithm, or both, may be available at theelectronic media player. A simpler form of identifying of theuncorrupted file segments in a compressed formatted version may beachieved by first decompressing the audio or data file beforeidentifying the segments. In the event that the electronic media playerrequires a different format than that offered by the online serviceprovider, a conversion may be implemented online prior to data transferor at the electronic media player site. FIG. 2, step 174, depicts theconversion happening at the online service provider's site.

Referring to FIG. 1, step 180, the identified, non-corrupted sectionfrom the online version is then sent to or shared with the user'selectronic media player. Preferably, this section's contents are storedon the user's system, for instance on the hard disc contained within aCD player or computer, or other accessible storage media, step 182.Settings on the user's electronic media player may be set to deal withthe backed up section, step 190. When played, the corrupted file sectionon the compact disc is timely circumvented by playing the seamlesslyintegrated non-corrupted section from the compact disc player.

During this process, or sometime later, the user is given the option ofstoring the non-corrupted version on a new compact disc with the otheruncorrupted sections. Optionally, the user may register all theelectronic media players, which may be updated all at the same time, orsometime later when each one is individually powered on.

The user may also be prompted with quick means to physically fix thecompact disc, by cleaning the disc, rotating the reading device, orimplementing other physical remedies, such as putting transparent tapeon the compact disc to aid positioning, cleaning the lens, vacuuming themachine, realigning the lens, or downloading other drivers. If the quickmeans for fixing are not successful, the corrupted files must then bereplaced during play or sometime before through prior analysis, usingthe methodology of the present invention.

FIG. 3 depicts the preferred systems for implementing the presentinvention. In FIG. 3A, a network system 30 is connected to an electronicmedia player 32, either directly or through a personal computer 34. Theonline network provides access to the master copy for downloading withinmemory of electronic media player 32. Alternatively, as depicted in FIG.3B, the preferred system may be enacted at a peer-to-peer level, havingpersonal computer 34 interconnected to other computers, represented bycomputer 36, to access the downloadable master copy for storage inelectronic media player 32. The connection between computers ispreferably through the Internet, although other hard line orelectromagnetic transmission connections are also possible.

While the present invention has been particularly described, inconjunction with a specific preferred embodiment, it is evident thatmany alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent tothose skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. It istherefore contemplated that the appended claims will embrace any suchalternatives, modifications and variations as falling within the truescope and spirit of the present invention.

1. A method for restoring material on an electronic media player, saidmethod comprising: identifying and locating corrupted file segments onan electronic storage media file playing on said electronic media playerby assigning identifying markers to beginning and end points of saidcorrupted file segments; accessing an online service provider having amaster copy of said electronic storage media file; downloading to saidelectronic media player uncorrupted file segments from said master copy,said uncorrupted file segments matching said corrupted file segmentshaving said identifying markers at said beginning and end pointsthereof; and substituting said uncorrupted file segments for saidcorrupted file segments during play of said electronic storage mediafile on said electronic media player.
 2. The method of claim 1 furtherincluding dynamically identifying and locating said corrupted filesegments during play of said electronic storage media file.
 3. Themethod of claim 1 wherein said steps of identifying and locating saidcorrupted file segments, accessing said online service provider, anddownloading to said electronic media player are performed at a timesubsequent to playing said storage media file.
 4. The method of claim 1wherein said electronic storage media file includes compact discs,digital video discs, floppy discs, flash memory, or hard drives.
 5. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising locating said master copy bysearching for a unique identifier assigned to said electronic storagemedia file.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of substitutingsaid uncorrupted file segments includes loading said uncorrupted filesegments in accessible memory of said electronic media player.
 7. Themethod of claim 1 wherein said master copy comprises a compressed audioor data file format.
 8. The method of claim 7 further including:decompressing said master copy; identifying said uncorrupted filesegments; and converting said uncorrupted file segments to a formatcompatible with said electronic media player if said uncorrupted filesegments are not in a compatible format.
 9. The method of claim 1wherein said step of accessing said online service provider comprisesaccessing a network of peers with a similar data carrier.
 10. The methodof claim 1 including: verifying that said master copy is available fromsaid online service provider; storing any request for said master copywhen said master copy is not available but within an accessibledatabase, and prompting a user when said master copy becomes available;and verifying said electronic storage media file meets criteria fordetermining legitimacy prior to downloading.
 11. The method of claim 10including routing said user to another online location containing saidmaster copy if said master copy is not available from said onlineservice provider.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein said step ofverifying said electronic storage media file meets criteria forlegitimacy includes verifying a copy restriction of said electronicstorage media file.
 13. The method of claim 10 including sending saiduser a notification that an illegal copy is currently in use when saidelectronic storage media file does not meet said criteria fordetermining legitimacy.
 14. The method of claim 13 further including:locating a legitimate copy of said electronic storage media file;offering said user an opportunity to purchase said legitimate copy; anddownloading said legitimate copy upon said user's acceptance andpayment.
 15. The method of claim 1 including downloading saiduncorrupted file segments from a designated online location by grantingsaid user a specified URL, a password, or sharing a decryption algorithmwith said user.
 16. A method for restoring material on an electronicmedia player, said method comprising: locating a master copy of anelectronic storage media file by searching for a unique identifierassigned to said electronic storage media file; identifying and locatingcorrupted file segments on said electronic storage media file byassigning identifying markers to beginning and end points of saidcorrupted file segments; accessing an online service provider having amaster copy of said electronic storage media file; verifying that saidmaster copy is available from said online service provider; storing anyrequest for said master copy when said master copy is not available butwithin an accessible database, and prompting a user when said mastercopy becomes available; verifying said electronic storage media filemeets criteria for determining legitimacy prior to downloading;downloading to said electronic media player uncorrupted file segmentsfrom said master copy when said electronic storage media file isdetermined legitimate into accessible memory of said electronic mediaplayer, said uncorrupted file segments matching said corrupted filesegments; and substituting said uncorrupted file segments for saidcorrupted file segments during play of said electronic storage mediafile on said electronic media player.
 17. (canceled)
 18. A programstorage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program ofinstructions executable by the machine to perform method steps forrestoring material on an electronic media player, said method stepscomprising: locating a master copy of an electronic storage media fileby searching for a unique identifier assigned to said electronic storagemedia file; identifying and locating corrupted file segments on saidelectronic storage media file by assigning identifying markers tobeginning and end points of said corrupted file segments; accessing anonline service provider having a master copy of said electronic storagemedia file; verifying that said master copy is available from saidonline service provider; storing any request for said master copy whensaid master copy is not available but within an accessible database, andprompting a user when said master copy becomes available; verifying saidelectronic storage media file meets criteria for determining legitimacyprior to downloading; downloading to said electronic media playeruncorrupted file segments from said master copy when said electronicstorage media file is determined legitimate into accessible memory ofsaid electronic media player, said uncorrupted file segments matchingsaid corrupted file segments; and substituting said uncorrupted filesegments for said corrupted file segments during play of said electronicstorage media file on said electronic media player.
 19. (canceled) 20.The program storage device of claim 18 further comprising: locating alegitimate copy of said electronic storage media file; offering saiduser an opportunity to purchase said legitimate copy; and downloadingsaid legitimate copy upon said user's acceptance and payment.